BLUETOOTH™ Low-Energy Scanning and Ranging

Abstract

A first device may communicate via a first wireless interface (WI) and a second WI, with the second WI operating at a relatively higher power level than the first WI. The first device may receive a scan notification corresponding to wireless scanning performed by a second device. The first device may subsequently perform wireless scanning using the second WI in response to the scan notification indicating that the first device is within effective communication range of a third device. The first device may receive the scan notification over a wireless connection established between the first device and the second device using the first WI. The first device may transmit filter information to the second device, the filter information indicating when, and for which scans the first device is to receive scan notifications. The first device may also activate the second WI and use the second WI to perform ranging and / or control operations associated with the third device.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM INFORMATION[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 599,760, filed May 19, 2017, titled “BLUETOOTH™ Low-Energy Scanning and Ranging”, now. U.S. Pat. No. 9,942,849, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entireties as though fully and completely set forth herein.[0002]The claims in the instant application are different than those of the parent application or other related applications. The Applicant therefore rescinds any disclaimer of claim scope made in the parent application or any predecessor application in relation to the instant application. The Examiner is therefore advised that any such previous disclaimer and the cited references that it was made to avoid, may need to be revisited. Further, any disclaimer made in the instant application should not be read into or against the parent application or other related applications.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present application relates to electronic devices, includi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a scenario where a small wearable device with limited power reserves can be connected to a larger device with more power reserves. The small device can offload certain tasks to the larger device, conserving energy and scanning only when there is a need. The larger device can then use the information it has collected to assist the small device in connecting to nearby devices or networks. This helps the small device to stay connected for longer periods of time without having to recharge or replace the battery.

Problems solved by technology

However, scanning functionality may be offloaded for other reasons, for example to allocate internal resources of the device to other functions and the like, and scanning functionality may not necessarily be offloaded for the same reason in each instance.

In some scenarios, a user may desire to utilize a smaller wireless communication device (e.g. a wearable device such as a smart watch), which may have limited power reserves.

However, keeping a wireless interface active for extended periods of time may result in the battery or power source of the device being depleted faster than anticipated or desired, making it difficult to use the device for extended periods of time without having to recharge the battery / power source, or without having to replace the battery (in devices featuring replaceable batteries / power sources).

For example, ranging technology such as Ultra-Wideband (UWB)—which is a radio technology for transmitting information spread over a large bandwidth—may be prone to high power consumption and may therefore not lend itself to constant use in small(er) wireless communication devices, e.g. for use in a wearable device like a smart watch.

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